BAE Systems has announced it has successfully launched missiles against air and ground targets from a modified version of a Malloy T-150 uncrewed air system (UAS) currently also on trial with the Royal Navy.
At present members of 700X Naval Air Squadron are deployed on Royal Navy flagship HMS Prince of Wales as it leads the U.K. Carrier Strike Group on Operation Highmast, an eight-month Indo-Pacific deployment.
While on board 700X NAS personnel are experimenting with a heavy-lift uncrewed air system (UAS), the Malloy T-150 produced by its FalconWorks arm, for ship-to-ship supply duties.
Now in a separate development programme a modified variant of the drone, a SURVICE TRV-150 adapted for U.S. Marine Corps logistics requirements, has successfully fired missiles against air and ground targets, as per a recent BAE Systems press statement.
The recent trials took place at the U.S. Army’s Dugway Proving Ground in Utah; the drone was armed with Hydra rockets fitted with the firm’s APKWS laser-guidance kit which transforms unguided rockets into precision-guided munitions.
As per the press statement, “The tests exceeded expectations in all aspects, including platform performance and target engagements, with zero misses.”
FalconWorks Business Development Director Anthony Gregory commented: “Uncrewed systems are an increasingly important part of our customers’ arsenals and I’m delighted that we’ve been able to show how UAS technology can further help them maintain an edge on the ever-evolving modern battlefield.
“These trials have significantly advanced our ability to deliver this new tactical option at a fraction of the cost of conventional means.”
SURVICE Engineering’s President Greg Thompson added: “While originally designed as a tactical edge logistics drone, adding strike packages to different variants of the TRV is a natural extension that leverages an already-fielded UAS as a multi-role offensive and defensive asset.
“Providing medium UAS-delivered air and ground target strike capability will be a force-multiplying game changer and we are excited to play a role in bringing this new capability to our US and allied-nation warfighters.”
- You can read more details on the BAE Systems website